General Managers Message
From the Office of Allan Botha, General Manager

Dear Members,

I’d like to take this opportunity to update you on some exciting developments around the club, as well as reinforce a few important course etiquette practices that will help us maintain and improve the standards we all enjoy.

New GPS Cart System Now Active

Our new golf cart GPS system is now fully operational and in use across the course.

I’d like to acknowledge the efforts of Daryl Muir, Colin Gee, Rob Mitford-Burgess, assiting myself in setting up an extensive network of geo-fences designed to protect key areas of the course. These include sensitive zones such as tees and greens.

These protective geo-fences are always active and will prevent club carts from entering restricted areas. If a cart approaches one of these zones, players will receive a message with instructions to back out, ensuring we avoid unnecessary damage.

Cart Path Only & Fairway Protection Features

In addition to permanent protections, we now have the ability to activate “cart path only” rules when the course becomes too wet for normal cart access.

• These temporary geo-fences operate in the same way as permanent ones
• They can be switched on or off as conditions require
• We also have the flexibility to restrict individual fairways when needed

For example, the 5th fairway can now be isolated and protected independently, which gives us a valuable tool to better manage wear and recovery across specific areas of the course.

 Ongoing Testing & Member Feedback

While the system is up and running, ongoing fine-tuning is required. Some geo-fences may need adjustment to ensure they are positioned perfectly.

If you’ve used a cart and experienced any issues, please let me know:

• Email me directly, or
• Pop into the office

When reporting, please include the specific location where the issue occurred—this will allow for quick and accurate adjustments.

Course Etiquette – Everyone Plays a Part

Course etiquette is always a topic worth revisiting, particularly as our team continues to work hard to bring the course back to top condition.

We ask all members and guests to actively support this effort by:

Carrying and Using Sand Buckets

• All players must take a sand bucket
• Fill your divots on fairways and tees
• A filled divot recovers twice as fast
• Couch grass naturally spreads into the sand-filled area, speeding up recovery

Repairing Pitch Marks

• A properly repaired pitch mark recovers in approximately 2 days
• An unrepaired or poorly repaired mark can take 2–3 weeks to heal

If each player takes responsibility for their own pitch marks—and a few extra—you’ll make a real difference.

Working Together for Better Greens

We are committed to delivering smoother, truer, and quicker greens, and your help plays a crucial role in achieving this.

By taking ownership of small actions like repairing pitch marks and filling divots, you are directly contributing to the quality of the course—and the enjoyment of every member.

Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation. Together, we can ensure Omokoroa Golf Club continues to improve and remain a course we’re all proud of.

Course Update Notices

• Hole 8 Tees will be moved forward (ALL TEES to the RED TEES) for approximately one to two weeks from Monday, 11 May, while remedial work is undertaken along the public walkway.
  This work includes repairing previously eroded areas and installing new shoreline erosion protection, similar to the improvements completed along holes 15, 16 and 17.
• Hole 5 Green is now back in play.
  Players are reminded that the newly planted area to the left of the green is strictly a NO PLAY ZONE.
  You may retrieve your ball from this area, but play is not permitted from within it.

Calling All Volunteers – Mulching Working Bee

We also have a second volunteer opportunity on Monday, 11 May and Tueday, 12 May from 8:30am onwards to help with mulching the large green waste pile located between the 2nd fairway and the back of the 5th green.

Please wear: hearing protection, gloves, sturdy boots, and a high-visibility vest if possible.

0221395896 - Contact David Ashton for more info on the day

Your help with this is greatly appreciated—many hands make light work!

Welcome Home, James Goatley

It’s great to welcome James back home after representing himself — and us — at the Miniputt World Championships in the UK.

James wrote: "I got back from the UK yesterday and thought I would share how I got on. I had a great experience meeting people from around the world. I had 3 days of practice on the course which went really well. I achieved the 2nd lowest score ever recorded on the course of 22. The tournament began on the Friday and unfortunately I wasn't able to maintain my good form. I also developed the dreaded yips! I missed out on making the top 16 and knockout phase but supported Cameron from NZ who made it all the way to the semi finals. I definitely learnt a lot about the mental side of competing at this level"

While in UK and prior to the tournament he was also interviewed by BBC Radio Sussex and had an article on the BBC website. 

Click here to read more.

9 Hole Ladies
Yvonne Hoskins

The weather started off wet and it looked as though we would be in for a wet game this Thursday, however, just in time to tee off, the clouds cleared and the sun came out, and the day turned out to be a very pleasant temperature to play golf in.  

This week we played LGU, Homelinks Sue Bunt with a nett haggle.  Winners on the day were Irene Hallam and Dianne Mahony with a very respectable 32 nett.  Followed by Carolyn Robinson and Dianne Litten with 33 and Rohanne Hancock with 34.  Well done to the winners.

Next Monday our interclub team plays Round 4 against Whakatane at Fairview.  Good luck ladies.

9 Hole Men
Fred Hartley

 Men's Nine Hole Golf- Thursday 7th May

The first round of the Championship Matchplay has been completed, with a full field of 16 in each of the two Divisions. Next week will again see all participants in action in the second round and in the first round of the Plate competions.

Men's World
Peter Kilpatrick

Last week’s results

Best gross

Jordan Shaw 70